Title: Child and Family Therapist
Reports to: Children’s Mental Health Program Director
Pay Grade: 16
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for the provision of therapeutic interventions for children and families who are experiencing emotional /behavioral distress and/or disturbances.
1. Ability to provide mental health assessments and develop treatment plans in partnership with families and other team members.
2. Ability to give direction to the entire treatment team and ensure the implementation of therapeutic activities.
3. Ability to provide direct therapy for individuals, families and groups.
4. Has strong written/oral communication skills with diverse populations including; families, team members and the public.
5. Contributes to the professional reputation of the agency.
Masters degree in one of the following areas: counseling, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy or a field directly related to children’s mental health counseling. Must be familiar with DSM IV and the Multi—Axis diagnostic system. Licensed or licensure eligible and have two years community mental health and/or professional experience working with children.
Ability to obtain Alaska drivers license and liability insurance as well as travel in small planes.
Performance Standards
Title: Child and Family Therapist
1. Ability to provide professional mental health assessments, clinically appropriate mental health diagnoses and clinical treatment plans.
Function: Provides professional mental health assessments.
Standards:
a) Is knowledgeable of and operates in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association.
b) Selects and appropriately uses a variety of developmentally and culturally appropriate informal and formal assessment tools.
c) Provides information about assessments and involves families as active participants in the assessment process.
d) Collaborates with other professionals in conducting family-centered assessments when appropriate.
e) Utilizes assessment results to develop and implement treatment plans.
f) Develops assessments that are Medicaid compliant.
g) Identifies diagnoses that are consistent with DSM IV-TR criteria.
Function: Creates clinical treatment plans.
Standards:
a) Identifies simple, clearly worded goals which describe target positive behaviors and skills.
b) Prescribes goals which relate clearly to problems and skill deficits identified in the mental health assessment.
c) Updates goals and interventions on an as needed basis, but at least quarterly.
d) Works in conjunction with service coordinators to craft treatment plans that include clear interventions and skills to be taught.
2. Ability to give direction to the entire treatment team and ensure implementation of therapeutic activities.
Function: Works in partnership with families, other individuals, and agencies to provide team oriented “wrap-around” services for children and families with mental health needs.
Standards:
a) Consults regularly with mental health associates to provide clinical direction and instruction.
b) Maintains regular communication with therapeutic foster parents and effectively gives training and support and coaching in managing challenging behaviors.
c) Consults with psychiatric providers and supplies them with up to date reports if treatment progress.
d) Creates partnerships with educational providers and collaboratively arrives at means to support appropriate school behaviors.
e) Works with service coordinator to ensure treatment plans are consistently implemented.
3. Ability to provide direct therapy for individuals, families and groups. (KSA)
Function: Provides professional counseling or therapy for individuals, families and groups.
Standards:
a) Is knowledgeable of and operates in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association.
b) Is capable of operating from at least one theoretical orientation that is predominantly affective behavioral or cognitive in nature.
c) Considers the influence of family and community systems upon the provision of therapy services.
d) Seeks to build upon strengths of clients.
e) Utilizes evidence based practices in planning interventions and conducting direct therapy.
4. Has strong written/oral communication skills with diverse populations including; families, team members, agencies and the public (KSA)
Function: Practices effective communication with families and the public.
Standards:
a) With written permission, refers families to other services as needed and regularly communicates with other providers.
b) Is positive in interactions with families and other providers.
c) Is sensitive and considerate regarding the limitations, feelings and concerns of others.
d) Seeks regular feedback from families regarding the effectiveness of services.
e) Adapts to communication styles of individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
f) Listens and asks for clarification when necessary.
g) Is dependable and follows through on commitments.
Function: Practices effective communication with other team members.
Standards:
a) Is positive in interactions with other team members.
b) Listens and asks for clarification when necessary.
c) Avoids defensiveness and seeks mutual understanding.
d) Give feedback in a constructive way.
e) Is dependable and follows through on commitments
f) Avoids gossip and negative comments about others.
g) Is sensitive and considerate regarding the limitations, feelings and anxieties of others.
h) Holds other team members in high esteem.
Function: Practices effective communication with supervisor.
Standards:
a) Seeks clarification and follows through on expectations regarding which actions/changes must be approved by supervisor.
b) Listens and asks for clarification when necessary.
c) Avoids defensiveness and seeks mutual understanding with supervisor.
d) Give feedback to supervisor in a constructive way.
e) Is dependable and follows through on commitments to supervisor.
Function: Written Communication (reports, documentation) is clear, concise and timely.
Standards:
a) Reports are written in understandable language, meet Medicaid regulation standards and are completed within required timelines.
b) Billing paperwork is completed and submitted in a timely fashion.
5. Contributes to the professional reputation of the agency. (KSA)
Function: Represents the agency in a professional manner.
Standards:
a) Actively participates in professional interagency meetings/organizations.
b) Is aware of/adheres to interagency agreements.
c) Maintains neat, professional appearance and work area.
Function: Adheres to all agency policies and procedures.
Standards:
a) Locates and refers to agency policy/procedure manual.
b) Asks for clarification regarding policies/procedures from supervisor.
Function: Adheres to all State and Federal laws and regulations
Standards:
a) Locates and refers to applicable laws/regulations.
b) Asks for clarification re-laws/regulations from supervisor as needed.